Normal life was disrupted in Tamil Nadu today following a state-wide bandh to protest the Supreme Court stay on implementation of 27 per cent reservation for OBCs in elite educational institutions. With the DMK government sponsoring the bandh, and its allies joining in to make it a success, life ground to a halt across the state.

Passengers traveling through Tamil Nadu were stranded as trains and buses were held up at various places. Those hailing from outside Tamil Nadu complained they had no clue about the bandh.

It was on Thursday that the ruling DMK and its allies passed a resolution to declare a bandh. The decision was followed up with a government order on Friday announcing that the day would be declared a public holiday under the Negotiable Instrument Act.

Meanwhile, in a statement Chief Minister M Karunanidhi thanked the people for making the bandh “total and successful.” Faulting AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa for dubbing it an “eyewash,” Karunanidhi said the bandh symbolised the anguish of the oppressed classes. Karunanidhi pointed out that he had invited the AIADMK and its ally, the MDMK, as well as actor Vijayakant’s DMDK, to participate in the bandh. But the AIADMK and MDMK had not responded, he said, adding: “But, despite their non-participation, Tamil Nadu came to a standstill in support of social justice.”

In a statement last night, Jayalalithaa, expressing “shock and agony” on the court stay, said the DMK should have sought the views of the opposition parties instead of seeking their support after deciding on the bandh.

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